Designers Show Off Their Best Design Tips in This Woodsy Showhouse

The 2021 Serenbe Designer Showhouse is located in the Serenbe community south of Atlanta. With four bedrooms and 4.5 bathrooms and at 3,500 square feet, the home is defined by a contemporary exterior that coordinates with the open, airy design inside including over 14-feet high ceilings.

Mixed materials and a color palette for the exterior that blends into the landscape was essential in blending this home seamlessly with its woodsy landscape, says architect Steve Dray. "One of my favorite features inside is the open staircase that connects all floor levels very well," says Dray.

The elevation of the Serenbe Designer Showhouse, presented by Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles magazine, gives it a real connection to the tree canopy outside, and the use of soft, earthy neutrals inside connects beautifully with those outdoor elements.

"A clean, symmetrical path extends to the front entry," says Lucinda Bray of Floralis Garden Design of the exterior landscape plan that blends built and natural elements. Natural boulders found on site were used to terrace the front hillside of the home. Grasses and groundcover were introduced to soften hard elements in the design, Lucinda says.

The lack of walls in this great room posed a challenge for architect and designer Jeffrey Bruce Baker, who envisioned this room as "a modern sculpture garden." Strong design pieces were critical in giving the room a unified look, says Jeffrey. Large contemporary artworks and contemporary furniture pieces — such as the red sofa from Ligne Roset — were key to the modern feel.